The Thin White Line

Ten minutes later, with the Tylenol, antacid and caffeine kicking in, he started to feel like he might survive–until he saw the note Rami had left him on the table.

Matt, I was a bit harsh last night and I apologize. I’m at the Writer’s Fest all day until eight and there’s a reception afterwards. Then, except for Binta’s party tomorrow night, that’s it for promotional events. Maybe we can spend some time together this weekend. We need to talk. Rami

Below her name was an address of a penthouse in Yaletown.

“Damn!” He’d forgotten about the party. This event was going to be a real test of forbearance. The host, Binta Kadeesha Agu, had established herself as the spokesperson for the BIPOC and marginalized communities in general. When she began to champion Raminder’s writing, Matt, like any good journalist, did a background search.

Born Brenda Bothom, she was a local girl, the child of an interracial couple. Her father was a tech mogul who was a winner of the Canadian Black Entrepreneur of the Year and the Black Business Association of BC - Business Excellence Awards. Her mother was white, an heiress whose family controlled a billion-dollar investment firm of which she was the largest single shareholder.

The couple divorced shortly after Brenda was born and despite her mother getting sole custody, Brenda decided to identify with the Black roots of her indifferent daddy. In university, she changed her name and became involved with the issues concerning BIPOCs, and later, when she declared herself as genderfluid, a person whose gender identity is not fixed and changes over time and circumstances, added gender politics to her list of causes.

Binta was the media’s darling: informed, articulate, confident, and remarkably beautiful. Since her income was derived from a generous trust fund, she had no encumbrances like having to work and therefore was instantly available for comment.

She was always accompanied by an entourage of the most trending individuals: social reform crusaders, the latest victims of an unjust society, and BIPOC artists making creative contributions to further the marginalized. Everyone was more than eager to accommodate Bita. With her wealth and family contacts, she could launch or sink a career.

Her outspoken advocacy had also created enemies not only among opponents of her policies. Dissenters within her own ranks were summarily cancelled, but those from other quarters, especially the extreme right, were confronted–with enthusiasm, in Matt’s opinion. Controversy meant headlines and Binta loved publicity. Death threats were not uncommon and whether legitimate or not, she had a personal security team with her at all times.  

He’d agreed to attend the party with Rami before his article was published and before Binta had authored one of the more scathing letters to the editor. If he attended the party, he doubted a confrontation could be avoided – complete with lights and cameras, or at least cell phone video. Raminder must have considered that. Why would she still want him to be there?